Parachute



' Nov.'28, 1939. SHAFFER I 2,181,611

PARAcnuTE Filed Oct. 25, 1958 wmuu J5 ATTYORNEYS Patented N ov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I PARACHUTE Harry G. Shaffer, Pierce City, Mo., assig'nor of three thirty-seconds to Henry Badger, Lawrence County, Mo.

Application October 25, 1938; Serial No. 236,941

8 Claims. (Cl. 244-149) My invention relates to parachutes, and has related thereto as well as to the ring 28 by among its objects and advantages the provision rivets 32. Thus the margin of the canopy III of improved means for positively opening the about the opening 26 will be effectively reinforced. parachute and a novel control for maneuvering Ring 30 is provided with a flange 34.constitutthe parachute. ing a seat for a valve element 36 having a periph- An object of my invention is to provide a novel eral flange 38 arranged to be brought into seatmeans for controlling the descent of the paraing relation with the flange 34. Centrally of the chute to the end that dangers or unsuitable landvalve element 36 I anchor a tube 40, which tube ing spaces may be avoided through means under extends loosely through an opening in a metallic the control of the jumper. The parachute is strap-42 having right-angular runs 44 terminatcharacterized by a valve which may be actuated ing in right-angular lips 46 fixedly anchored to for hastening a dangerous lateral drift or to the ring 38 by the rivets 32. retard the descent so as to be carried 'by the The upper end of the tube is provided with a wind to a lateral position beyond. for example, a pin 48 which constitutes an abutment for a preselected objective. Washer 50 against which I position one end of a 1 Another object is to provide a parachute decompression spring 52. Spring 52 embraces the signed to be folded in a compact manner,inwhich tube 4|] and has its opposite ends arranged in novel means are incorporated for positively openabutting relation with the strap 42. Thus the ing the parachute without the aid or attention of tension of the spring 52 normally urges the valve- .the jumper other than his weight in combina- 36 to the closed position of Figure 3. 20

tion with the efiective air resistance on the para- To the pin 48 I connect one end of a pull rope Y chute. 54 which extends downwardly inside the tube 40 In the accompanying drawing: and downwardly through the canopy within Figure 1 is an elevational view of a parachute reach of the jumper occupying the seat 22. Valve embodying my invention; element 36 lies underneath the seat flange 34 so 25 Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view along as to be urged thereagainst by the spring 52 as the line 2-2 of Figure 1; well as the air under pressure in the canopy. Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line However, the valve element 36 may be openedby 3-3 of Figure 4; exerting a pull on the rope 54. Thus the valve Figure 4 is a top plan view of the structure 36 may be actuated for venting the canopy to 30 illustratedinFigure 3; I control the descent of the parachute. In this Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a Way, the parachute may be maneuvered so as to parachute opening means; and shorten a dangerous lateral drift.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the opening I provide a means for positively opening the means illustrating the manner .in which the sail Ill. The opening means are indicated at 56 35 structure may be folded. and 58 in Figure 2. Both units 56 and 58 are In the embodiment selected to illustrate my inv identical in construction and operation so that vention, the parachute comprises a bulb-shaped the description of one or a portion thereof will canopy I0 narrowing downwardly, into a neck l2 apply to the other. Neck l2 is folded back upon having an open end l4 for the admission of air. itself at 60 and the fold is made secure by stitch- 40 Neck I4 is of suflicient diameter to lend the necesing 62 or other suitable means. Units 56 and 58 sary carrying capacity to the parachute. Canare semi-circular in general configuration, as in opy l0 may comprise canvas and is reinforced by viewing Figure 2. Referring to Figures 2, 5 and cords l6 which extend vertically of the canopy 6, the unit 56 is made up of bars 64 alternately .5 and about its top curvature. The usual ring l8 positioned between double bars 66. The ends is carried by the canopy l8 through the medium of the bars 64 are pivotally connected. at 6.8 with of shroud lines 20, and the ring I8 is provided the ends of adjoining double bars 66.

with the usual seat 22. Joints 68 comprise sleeves 18 passed through At the apex of the canopy i0 I provide a valve alig ned openings in the overlapping bars 64 and 24 which. may be opened and closed at the will 66 .md the sleeves 18 are upset at 74. Alternate 50 of the jumper for releasing or trapping air injoints 68 are attached to the neck I2 at the hemv side the sail. Referring to Figure 3, the canopy area, as indicated at I6 in Figure 2. The hem I6 is provided with an opening 26 reinforced by area of the neck l2 may be provided with eyelets,

a metallic ring 28. A ring 36 is positioned on one of which is illustrated at 18 in Figure 5, for u the opposite side of the canopy l6 and is fixedly the reception of sleeves 10 corresponding to those 66 same for use under various conditio openings. Thus alternate joints 68 are connected with the neck I 2 while the remaining alternate joints are unattached. However, the joints attached to the neck I! retain their pivotal action.

The hem area is provided with a plurality of eyelets 80 through which the shroud lines 20 are passed and extended-through alternate sleeves 10 and knotted, as at 82..

Bars 84 each has one end extended at 84 beyond its respective pivotal point 68 and is pro vided with a right-angular lip 86 arranged to engage underneath the adjoining bars 86 to restrain further pivotal movement after the bars have been aligned according to Figure 5. In the absence of a pull on the shroud lines 20, the pivotally connected bars 64 and 5.5 may be collapsed according to Figure 6 so as to permit folding of the neck l2. Shroud lines 20 slide freely through the eyelets 80 and, when a pull is exerted on the shroud lines, pull downwardly on their associated joints 68 for moving the bars into a straight line. jointed bars partly folded at which time a pull on the shroud lines 20 will straighten .the folded bars'for opening the neck l2 to the circular configuration of Figure 2. .Units 56 and 58 are spaced slightly at their ends, as at 88, in Figure 2, so that the two linkage units may be folded into compact relation. 1

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readg adapt the of service.

I claim: 1

1. A parachute comprising a canopy having an open neck, eyelets carried by said neck, seat supporting shroud lines threaded loosely through said eyelets, a normally collapsed linkage encircling said neck and connected therewith with the elements of the linkage so connected and ar-' ranged as to provide a rigid ring for positively opening and holding the neck in a full open position, and operating, connections between the 'shroud lines and said linkage for moving the latter to its neck opening positiorrwhen a pull is exerted on the shroud'lines.

2. A parachute comprising a canopy having an open-neck, eyelets carried by said neck, seat supporting shroud lines threaded loosely through said eyelets, and a foldable linkage encircling the neck and connected with the latter for. positively opening and holding the neck in a full open position, said foldable linkage comprising a plurality of pivotally connected bars having alternate pivotal connections connected to said neck and the other pivotal connections connected with saidshroud lines in such manner as to move the linkage to its neck opening position when a pull is exerted on the shroud lines. 3. A parachute comprising a canopy having open neck, eyelets attached to said neck, a foldable linkage operatively connected with said neck for positively opening and holding the same in a full open position, and shroud lines threaded through said eyelets and operatively connected .with said linkage for moving .the latter to its neck opening position when a pull is exerted on the shroud lines.

4. A parachute comprising a canopy having an open neck, eyelets carried -by said neck, seat Figure 6 illustrates the supporting shroud lines threaded loosely through said eyelets, means for positively opening and holding the neck in its full open position, said means comprising a plurality of bars having pivotal connections at their ends one with the other,

alternate pivotal connections comprising eyelets, the other of said pivotal connections being connected with the neck, and operating connections between the shroud lines and said certain of said pivotal connections so constructed and arranged as to move the bars to their neck opening position when a pull is exerted on the shroud lines.

, the shroud lines for opening the neck and holding the same-in its full open position, and means 'cooperabl'e with said bars to restrain the same from pivotal movement in one direction beyond a predetermined degree.

6. A parachute comprising. a pear-shaped canopy having an open neck, eyelets carried by said neck, a plurality of rigid bars, sleeves pivotally connecting the ends of the bars one with the other to provide a normally folded ring encircling said neck, pivotal connections between said neck and alternate sleeves, and operating connections between the shroud lines and the other of said sleeves so arranged as to move the bars to ring formation when a pull is exerted on the shroudlines for positively opening and holding the neck in a full open position.

'7. A parachute comprising a pear-shaped canopy having an open neck, eyelets carried by said neck, a plurality of rigid bars, sleeves pivotally connecting the ends of the bars one with the other to provide a normally folded ring encircling said neck, pivotal connections between said neck and alternate sleeves, operating connections between the shroud lines and the other of said sleeves so arranged-as to move the bars to ring formation when a pull "is exerted on the shroud lines for positively opening and holding the neck in a full open position, and means cooperable with said bars for restraining the latter from relative pivotal movement in one direction beyond their neck opening position.

8. A parachute comprising a pear-shaped canopy having an open end with the neck extending downwardly in the falling position of the parachute, a valve opening in the upper end of the canopy, a loop-shaped bracket attached to the canopy and extending upwardly from its top, a valve for closing said valve opening, a stem connected with said valve and slidably extending through an opening in said bracket, resilient means cooperable with said bracket and said stem for yieldingly holding the valve in a closed position, and a pull line connected with said valve for opening the same against the tension of said 

